Welcome back to the Hive FPL blog for GW34 of the season.

As the title of this post suggests we'll be focusing on the matches that matter most this weekend not specifically in the Premier League itself but between our Hive community members as all 3 leagues and the knockout cup come to a climax.

A big factor in the success of FPL teams this week will be in how they manage the absence of Man City, Arsenal, Palace and Villa players, none of whom feature in GW34.

Those teams still holding onto a free hit are very likely to take it this week and there are some appealing fixtures for them to target amongst the remaining sides.

Newcastle will be keen to take advantage of the fact that several of their rivals for a Champions League spot are out of action as they face Ipswich who could well be relegated by the final whistle.

One team who looked likely to be in a relegation battle until recently were Wolves but their recent form has eclipsed every other side in the division and they now face a woeful Leicester team who look ready for the beating.

At the other end of the table, Liverpool can seal the title with a point at home to Spurs but FPL managers will be banking on them getting more than that. Having won the reverse fixture 6-3 and having triumphed 4-0 at Anfield in the Cup against the same opposition, you'd expect this is an opportunity for Salah and co to seal the deal in style in front of the Kop.

Here's how things are shaping up across the Hive FPL

Classic League

@sperosamuel15 took a massive step towards the title by utilising their bench boost to excellent effect in GW33. Ref's team scored 108 points by playing the chip as well as taking advantage of the double game weeks of Arsenal, Palace, Man City and Aston Villa to good effect.

It catapulted them into top spot beyond @blockchainfpl whose own bench boost provided a good total of 85 points. The 14 point gap is nothing really but time is running out and Ref's Team certainly have the chips up their sleeve to feel confident they can maintain if not further the gap.

Elsewhere @mckane hit a very decent 79 points without the use of any chips to keep them lurking in 3rd place, 28 points off the top. @borran moved up to 4th with a GW score of 80. It's a 65 point gap for them to top spot, tough but not impossible with 5 weeks still to play.

@ipalibo fell to 5th with a disappointing return of 54 points (the average GW33 score across the FPL was 56). They are just a point behind 4th and so have to be considered title challengers still for now. However, @skanderh who also scored 54 points are now out of the title challenge.

There is still plenty to play for though with the top 10 sides receiving rewards and the higher places within that 10 receiving a greater chunk of the prize fund.

From 8th place and above look likely to get a top 10 finish but there were some big movers in the chasing pack which leave the fight for those last couple of spots well and truly on.

@gvkanten 's 105 points shot them up to 14th just 31 points off 10th spot while @yagman01 notched 90 points to fire them into 12th place. At the other end of the spectrum, @samostically's disastrous 38 points dropped them all the way down to 20th but does at least demonstrate the kind of point swings that are still possible.

Here's the top 20 in the Classic League at the end of GW34

H2H Division 1

At the top of the league, @blockchainfpl took advantage of defeats to both their closest rivals @ipalibo and @mckane to open up a 4 point lead at the top of the table.

In a league as competitive as Hive FPL's Division 1 then they are still far from certain to be champions but other teams will certainly need to up their form in order to stay in the chase. @mckane for example are without a win in their last 3 attempts leaving them 6 points adrift.

@mckane v @nonsowrites

This match then is key at both ends of the table. A 4th straight week without 3 points would almost certainly end FC McKane's title challenge while Nonz FC are bidding to stay in the top flight and are currently just 2 points above the relegation zone.

The real defining factor here and at play in so many of the matches in the last 5 weeks is going to be which chips the managers still have to play. FC McKane have been very sparing with their use of chips which means they have their free hit still up their sleeve. By contrast, Nonz FC have just their 2nd Wildcard left to play.

With only 4 players in their current squad playing during GW34 (Isak is not a differential) then they will be forced to either play that chip now or simply write this fixture off and look to their other 4 remaining games to get the 2 wins that would almost certainly guarantee them safety.

@aaalviarez v @talesfrmthecrypt

Both these teams will have an eye on the outcome of the match above as they seek to close the gap on 15th place. Suffragette City looked dead and buried at the start of last month but have won 6 of their last 8 to give themselves a glimmer of hope in their bid to avoid relegation. This then is the classic '6-pointer' defeat for either team would leave them with a mountain to climb while a victory for Espressos see them just 3 points adrift of safety with 4 to play.

On the face of it, Espressos have more options at the back although their doubling up on Chelsea keepers means that's something of an illusion. They might also be left sweeting on the fitness and availability of all their other defensive differentials. Wan Bissaka missed West Ham's match last weekend with a toe injury, the 2 Forest centre-backs have a grueling schedule having played on Monday ahead of their semi-final against City on Sunday and then the league game on Thursday, while Pedro Porro might also be subject to rotation ahead of Spurs midweek European match.

Further forward and their is very little to choose between the sides. Neto is the only midfield differential who is available to play while upfront, it'll be a straight shootout between 2 of the leagues' top strikers. Isak at home to Ipswich should give Suffragette City an advantage.

Neither side have any chips left that could dramatically alter their sides so it'll be interesting to see how they use their single free transfer or whether they opt to risk a points deduction to make more substantial changes?

GW33 Results

GW34 Fixtures

H2H Division 2

Into Division 2 and it feels like no one wants to get promoted! Top of the table @borran moved 3 points clear and benefited from defeats to 2nd placed @samostically, 3rd placed @george-dee, 4th placed @hadji, 6th placed @damolexy and 7th placed @rubilu.

If they win again this week and others around them lose then Hiveheadz will have sealed promotion back to the top flight.

The other beneficiaries were @sperosamuel15 who have shot up to 3rd and @happyboy1 and @stuartcturnbull who both moved up a couple of places and are now within touching distance of the promotion spots.

Disappointingly, none of the top 9 play each other this weekend and in fact there is only 1 head to head game between those in with a realistic chance of promotion between now and the end of the season.

For GW 34 @george-dee @rubilu, @happyboy1 and @stuartcturnbull all have what look like very winnable fixtures but the remaining 5 teams in the push for promotion play some decent sides who will need careful planning in order to beat.

GW33 Results

GW34 Fixtures

Hive FPL Cup

Round 2 saw a few significant casualties including 6th placed Skander TN, 8th placed Formidable Milano, 19th placed Hadji and 21st placed Rubilu.

Divison 1 sides Solat FC, Suffragette City, Herbae, Espressos and Vickoly FC also crashed out leaving this competition wide open.

Double reigning champions HallAnd Oats FC scrapped through with a score of 56, bang on the average for GW33.

Their reward for making it through is a place in the only all Division 1 tie of round 3 against Lazz. Lazz themselves are looking for another couple of wins in the H2H league to guarantee their safety while HallAnd Oats FC main focus is on finishing in the top 10 of the Classic League.

@thoth442 v @martinlazizi

Once again, the big factor in deciding the outcome of this match could be the use of chips. HallAnd Oats FC still have their Free Hit and I'd be very surprised if they didn't use it.

Lazz went all in for GW33, making 5 transfers. However, they've left themselves with just 7 available players for GW34. They do still have their 2nd Wildcard to play but with the likes of City, Arsenal, Palace and Villa not playing this weekend then it doesn't feel like a great time to use it.

They do however have a few other chips to use and not very much time left in which to use them. Could a cheeky triple captain on Isak at home to Ipswich get them enough points to progress to the 4th round?

Round 2 Results

Round 3 Fixtures